Unicystic Ameloblastoma of The Mandible

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Ameloblastoma of mandible
Lip split incision for segmental mandibulectomy. Source: BMC/ Head and Neck Oncology

A 30-years-old woman made her way to the hospital. She complained of an year-old swelling, gradually increasing in size, on the right side of her face. But according to her, it never sparked any pain or difficulty in opening her mouth (mandible). She could chew and articulate as usual.

Examination of the Mandible

Physical examination revealed a hard non-tender mass originating from the right side of her mandible. This 8 cm by 5 cm mass took flight from her right ramus to subsume the ramus itself, the angle and the body up to her right lower first premolar. But her oral mucosa was normal and the doctors did not notice enlarged lymph nodes or any abnormalities upon a quick systemic examination.

Imaging The Mandible

To further the diagnostic process, doctors conducted an orthopantomogram (OPG) of the mandible which showed a cystic lesion on its right side. A CT scan additionally showed that the lesion had a thinned-out cortex.

What Next?

Doctors opted for a surgery under general anesthesia. Using a lip split incision, they performed a segmental mandibulectomy and sent the resected specimen for histopathology which confirmed a unilocular ameloblastoma.

But What’s an Ameloblastoma?

Ameloblastoma is a fairly common odontogenic neoplasm. Its unicystic variety called Unicystic Ameloblstoma shows up as a mandibular cyst on gross and radiological examination. It is however on a histological examination that it reveals its neoplastic nature. Interesting right?

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